Band gigs

Booner! · 27 Aug 2006 at 09:44

Hey, Just wondered if anyone has their own band(s) and would like to help me determine a price for my next gig.

I am used to playing for free but have been paid on many occasions with some of my bands. basically i got approached for a 60th birthday party which isnt for a while yet but they really want my band "Inner Breeze" to play for them with requested music. The gig will be all night and so they wont need a DJ, so our price should reflect that, so thats about 3hours set i think. They run a business and insist on paying us and im slightly unsure on the average a band can charge etc for a night. There are four of us in this particular band and so the price should also reflect this too.

Any help would be appreciated (whether you have past experience of hiring a band or playing in a band)

cheers
rich

Efour · 27 Aug 2006 at 09:47

£200 and free booze.

and music section.

SexyGreyFox · 27 Aug 2006 at 11:38

My band is a classic rock covers band and the price around the Stoke area is about £180 to £250. We are basically playing to a select audience and the price reflects that.
Your band would be described as a function band. If its a 60th birthday party and you are going to do music from all genres and generations and play up to 3 hours then £600 isn't out of the question. Thats what function bands get in this area (but they are few).
We've just had a terrible time getting a new drummer and at least four I rang up like to go for the big bucks in a function band that pays them 4x what my band would get (but they play at least 5x less than us).

starscream · 27 Aug 2006 at 12:08

We've been payed £200 quid for a split 2 hour set (longest we've done). So I'd say £300 would be the minimum, as it is a function (birthday, wedding etc) you could possibly almost double that ammount though. Maybe go for an ammount in the middle, £450?

Got any links to your band?

Booner! · 28 Aug 2006 at 01:55

i got one for my other band, www.myspace.com/nuvola

thats a side band which we write and record our own stuff, however we havnt got the new songs up yet, we got about 15 of our own tracks.

I prefer playing in this new band, we played a gig early this evening and it went really well! everyone loved it and i got to play my new RBX774 yamaha bass! which is awesome!

banja · 28 Aug 2006 at 02:49

I too think about £500 if you think they'll pay it, about £250 minimum if you're feeling generous.

I went to a wedding a while ago and the band were very average but cost £800.

SexyGreyFox · 28 Aug 2006 at 10:02

You already know the times you are expected to play but this is advise for any new bands on here. Around 1980 I turned up to Rugeley Cricket Club and we were being paid double the money for a party. It turned out that we were expected to play from 7pm until midnight with only 10 mins break an hour :eek:

Always check your 'contract' before you play.

starscream · 28 Aug 2006 at 10:50

dmpoole said:
You already know the times you are expected to play but this is advise for any new bands on here. Around 1980 I turned up to Rugeley Cricket Club and we were being paid double the money for a party. It turned out that we were expected to play from 7pm until midnight with only 10 mins break an hour Always check your 'contract' before you play.

Did you have to start you set list again??? :eek:

Booner! said:
i got one for my other band, www.myspace.com/nuvola

Good stuff! I'll add it to our myspace list!

SexyGreyFox · 28 Aug 2006 at 11:42

starscream said:
Did you have to start you set list again???

We didn't set up until 8pm and I remember them going mad and telling us to hurry up because they had no disco or any other music.
We did repeat a lot of songs and I can still remember that we played Get Back by The Beatles 5 times and Back In The USSR 4 times.
Since that day I have always recommended discos for weddings, parties etc and to make sure that the DJ plays exactly what you want and not to bring his strobe etc if you don't want it.
We've just agreed to do a wedding reception next year for a couple of our fans and they realise that half of the guests will probably leave the room while we're on. I know the DJ and he's awesome, so they will get exactly what they pay for.